Dstl develops new hazard response software

UKA Correspondent

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The Defence Science and Technology Laboratory (Dstl) has developed new software to help emergency responders and military commanders respond more effectively to chemical and biological incidents.

Named the Hazard Assessment Simulation and Prediction (HASP) Suite, it has been licensed to software firm Riskaware by Ploughshare Innovations, which manages the commercial licensing of Dstl.

Dstl, a government agency that works under the Ministry of Defence, said it accurately models the dispersal of hazardous materials released in towns, cities and open areas. This will help emergency responders by predicting how any chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threat will spread and support them in managing a response.

The HASP Suite provides hazard predictions in urban environments in a matter of minutes and takes into consideration the interactions between indoor and outdoor dispersion. It also estimates the source parameters, such as location, discharge time, and the amount of substance released.

It will be available as a standalone product from Riskaware from June this year, and as a next generation CBRN information management system, known as EuroSIM CBRN.

Ploughshare’s chief executive officer James Kirby said: “We are pleased another Dstl innovation will be made available to industry and one which will improve the operational effectiveness of teams facing CBRN threats.”